Article marking and orienting machine



March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE 10Sheets-Sheet 1 A 7'4T'O'EN EY N F I mw. w w SN Sm I f@ mw. m mw l mm mm.

Filed Jan. l5, 1957 NSN March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE 2,976,803

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1957 10Sheets-Sheet 2 N in \1 N LQ w Q G O q -BQ m ii il l @n U P G O 1 /m A lL INVENTOR. @infr/of [ipv mma*- BY w M ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 F. VANMARLE ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.l5, 1957 ATTO@ N Y March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE 2,976,803

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE Filed Jan. l5, 1957 10Sheets-Sheet 4 AFT-TOR N EY March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE ARTICLE MARKINGAND ORIENTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. I5, 1957 INVENTOR.

fk5/)refer Kr /II/ffezf ATTOEN EY March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE 2,976,803

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE Filed Jan. l5, 1957 l0Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTO/2N EY March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE 2,976,803

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE Filed Jan. l5, 1957 10Sheets-Sheet 7 A TTOEN E Y March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE ARTICLE MARKINGAND ORIENTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. l5, 195'?A INVENTOR./fAw/c Kw mf OQA/' ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 F. vAN MARLE ARTICLE MARKINGAND ORIENTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. l5, 1957 INVENTOR.@inn/cf? [4f/Y d/ "fr .4'. my? ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 F. VAN MARLE2,976,803

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MACHINE Filed Jan. l5, 1957 10Sheets-Sheet 10 ,/ENVELOFE PATH l 253' l L Prg/ 258 f. Pow/ER /@/205SUPPLY ATTORNEY Ww... l

ARTICLE MARKING AND ORIENTING MAC Frederick Van Marle, The Hague,Netherlands, assignor to N.V. Technische MaatschappijMarchand-Andriessen, The Hague, Netherlands, a limited-liabilitycornpany of the Netherlands Filed Jan. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 634,211

3 Claims. (Cl. lOl-236) This invention relates to article handling andtreating and especially to the marking and/or orienting of a pluralityof articles fed in succession past a predetermined point.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for marking asuccession of randomly oriented articles, each having a designatorthereon indicating a predetermined location for a mark, and for markingeach such article at its predetermined location as it passes in thesuccess1on. Y

According to the present invention this may be accomplished by sensingthe designator as each article passes a predetermined point, and thenprinting on the article at a position conditioned by the sensed locationof the designator, or not printing in case no designator is sensed.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide, in a marking arrangementas aforesaid, for separately collecting articles marked and unmarked,and in some cases for further separately collecting marked articles inaccordance with their orientation.

The present invention, in the form shown and described, is particularlyadapted for handling randomly oriented mail to cancel the postage stampsthereon and/or sort the same linto groups faced in one direction.Heretofore it has been known to cancel stamps on envelopes by automaticfeeding and canceling machines, but these have required that a stack ofenvelopes supplied to them first be faced, i.e. arranged with allenvelopes oriented in one direction. This operation has normally beenperformed by hand and is a tedious and time-consuming matter. If notdone by hand, additional bulky and spaceconsuming equipment has beenrequired to perform the operation automatically.

It is another object, therefore, of the present invention to provide forautomatically handling and canceling mail without first facing the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single compact devicefor canceling stamps on mail which performs a canceling operation on thestamps even though the envelopes are fed to it with random orientation,and then separately collects the canceled envelopes in accordance withtheir orientations, so that the output of the device is, in effect,faced and ready for other operations such as destination sorting.

Another object of the invention is to provide an envelope facing deviceof simplified compact construction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide forhandling mail including the facing or facing and canceling thereof bytaking starnp location readings adjacent a single guided edge, wherebyletters, even though of varying lengths, can be readily accommodatedwithout pre-sorting of the envelopes into groups having lengths withinprescribed ranges or as normally known as long and short mail pieces.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is also an Object of theinvention to provide for feeding and han- 2,976,803 Patented Mar. 28,1961 dling of letters, even thoughof random length, in such a way thatstamps located adjacent the guided lower edges of the envelopes aresensed and the letters are fed to and stacked at one or the other of twocollection points according to the front or back positions of the stampssensed, and fed to and stacked at a third collection point whenever nostamp is sensed due to being along the upper edge. In this manner astack of randomly oriented envelopes, except for a few irregulars suchas unstamped envelopes, can receive a facing treatment, a cancelingtreatment, or both, by merely passing the entire group, afterstraightening, once through the treatment outlined above, and thereafterpassing those envelopes found at the third collection point through thetreatment a second time in inverted position.

Another object of the invention is'to provide for automatic letterhandling in such a way that a minimum number of sensing devices at aninitial detection station is arranged to control the subsequent sortingof envelopes into groups of those facing in certain directions, propercancellation of envelopes with stamps on different surfaces, or both.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide in a cancelingmachine for automatically detecting the presence on an envelope of aline of stamps too long for the cancellation mark to deface adequately,and for separating such an envelope and feeding it to a separate rejectstorage point to await separate manual treatment.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide for the timing ofcancellation printing at the proper instant on an envelope being fedthrough a canceling machine, whether the stamps are arranged adjacentthe leading edge or the trailing edge of the envelope, and further tocontrol the timing of the printing operation by a sensing of the saidadjacent edge as it passes a predetermined location.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novelautomatic guiding and stacking means for accumulating envelopes fed froma single feed path in three distinct locations depending on stamplocation, and including gate means located at a point in said feed pathand operated in time with envelope feed movement for eecting properseparation of the envelopes.

Additional objects, features and advantages will appear hereinafter asthe description proceeds.

For purposes of illustration and explanation, the invention is shown indetail in its preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan of a letter facing and/or stamp canceling machineaccording to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thedevice of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the right hand or feeding and canceling portionof the device of Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3a is a detail plan section illustrating a small area shown indotted lines in Fig. 3, and taken substantially on line 25a-3a of Fig.10;

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the left hand or stacking portion of the deviceof Fig. l to a larger scale, with portions of the deck broken away toillustrate the gate operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation of the upper portion of the deviceof Fig. 3 with the drive housing cover removed;

Fig. 6 Iis a partial front elevation of the upper portion of the deviceof Fig. 4 with the drive housing cover removed, and drawn to a slightlylarger scale;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a top plan of a portion of the device with the upper `deckremoved and showing especially the geared shafting and solenoids whichcontrol the operation of the canceling dies;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 3 anddrawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 11 is a section taken substantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 3, anddrawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 12 is a schematic illustration showing certain mechanical featuresof the machine of the invention in conjunction with a diagram of theelectrical features and the wiring therefor;

Fig. 13 shows a group of mail pieces with the four forwardmost piecesarranged to indicate the four positions at which stamps could appear ina group of mail pieces which is about to be placed in the machine for aiirst canceling and stacking operation; and

Fig. 14 shows the three positions the mail pieces of Fig. 13 couldassume after completing the iirst run through the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a machineincluding a base 15 which houses the motive power and electricalcircuits, and carries a control panel 17 placed in a. convenientlocation for operation. The upper cover 19 of the machine, hereinreferred to as the deck, carries the letter handling elements about tobe described. At the right hand end is a hopper 21 into which stacks ofletters may be inserted in a vertical, ort-edge position. One wall 23 ofthe hopper is a guide Wall, and a spring finger 25 serves to urge thecontained envelopes against this lwall. A continuously rotating boosterroller 27 exposed through an opening in wall 23 and connected turntable29 which projects slightly above deck 19 serve to frictionally urge theenvelopes towards the nip of a separating and feeding device 31. Thedevice 31 includes a roller 33 driven continuously in a directionopposing the ow of envelopes outward from the hopper Z1, and an opposingfreely rotating roller 35 resiliently urged against the reverselyrotating roller 33 which forms therewith a stop for the envelopes untilfeeding is required. A friction feeding element in the form of arotating sector 36 having a non-circular shape and driven at constantspeed in a feeding direction periodically picks the endrnost envelopefrom the stack of envelopes in the hopper 21 and feeds it forward, whilethe roller 33 prevents the feeding of the next envelope thereto. Thestop roller 35 is automatically retracted, as by cam means 37 (Fig. 10)to disable the same each time the feed element 36 approaches operativeposition. The feed element 36 thus separates and feeds one envelope at atime from the' hopper 2.1, and feeds the envelopes in a series at'aconstant rate with their leading edges spaced a given -distance apart,e.g. about fifteen inches. The separating and feeding device 31is'described and explained at length in my copending application, SerialNo. 499,483, tiled April 5, 1955, which application is directedprimarily thereto. While it is presently preferred to use the separatingand feeding device of the type shown, it will be understood that otherfeeding devices will in many cases be equally effective.

As an envelope is moved forward by the feeding element 36 it is pickedup by the first of a series of constantly rotating feed rollers 39 whichoperate in pairs to pass it from one to the other carrying it the lengthof the machine and ultimately into one of three stackers 41T, 41L and45, each equipped with the usual lstar wheel 47 for displacing the stackendwise as each incoming envelope approaches. Suitable guards or guides,such as 46, are introduced at appropriate locations to confine theenvelopes to the ydesired path.

In its progress along the envelope path defined by the feed rollers 39,an envelope passes adjacent firstly a stamp detecting device 49,secondly an envelope edge sensing device 51, thirdly a stamp cancelingprinter 53T for operating on the right Vside of the envelope (lookingtoward the trailing end thereof from the hopper 21), and fourthly astamp canceling printer 53L for operating on the left side of theenvelope. A pair of gates 57T and Y57L then serve to guide the envelopeinto either one or the other of stackers 41T and 41L, or into a centralchannel 61 which leads to the stacker 45 via the last pair of feedrollers 39.

The `separating and feeding device 31, the feed rollers 39, and the starWheels 47 are all rotated by suitable driving connections, including,for example, interconnecting gearing as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 8, from a suitable common source of mechanical power (not shown).

The printers 53T and 53L are similarly served with power from the samesource, but include. in their particular driving trains frictionclutches (not shown) which permit them to be held against rotationexcept when printing is required, as will presently appear.

Sensing devices More particularly, the stamp detector 49 is shown asbeing an RF pickup consisting of a primary coil 63 and a secondary coil65 whose coupling is disturbed by the passage therebetween of aconductive and consequently shielding object, it being contemplated thatthe postage Stamps to be used with the device will be of a type having athin metallic coating or metal foil lamina in their makeup for thisparticular purpose. It will be understood, however, that photoelectricor other means may be employed for stamp sensing in a similar manner'without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The envelope edge-sensing device 51 shown, as seen in detail in Fig. 11,consists of a housing 67 enclosing `a source of illumination or lamp 69.The light from the lamp 69 is beamed via lens 71 against the aperture 73of a housing 75 in which is mounted a photoelectric cell 77. The partsare so arranged that an envelope passed along the feed path by rollers39 will necessarily intercept the beam from lamp 69 and momentarilyprevent its illumination of the aperture 73.

Printers The device of the present invention is capable of printingstamp cancellation marks on whichever face of the envelope the stampappears, and accordingly two canceling or printing units are provided asgenerally indicated at 53T and SSL. These are preferably arranged tocancel stamps which appear near the lower edge of the envelope, that is,when the envelope is in its normal canceling position with the upperedge downward. With the stamp in its conventional location (the upperright hand corner of they envelope when applied) it will now appear nearthe forward or leadnig end of the envelope if on the left hand face, asviewed from the hopper end, or near the trailing end if on the righthand face, as clearly shown in Fig. 13. The reference characters 53L and53T designate the lead printer and trail printer respectively. Each ofthe printing units includes a conventional impression roller 79,printing die 81, and inking roller 83, the numeral being followed by lapostscript T or L, depending upon the printer of which it forms a part.The operating mechanism for the printing units is best shown in Figs. 8and 9 and will be described in detail with respect thereto. The trailprinting die 81T of trail printer 53T is driven by a train including theshaft 85T, and further including a suitable friction slip clutch (notshown) las heretofore mentioned. A stop projection 87T terminating in aroller surface is aixed to the shaft, and is normally interfered with bya roller tipped latch 89T which is rockable on a pivot 91T and held ininterfering position against an adjustable stop 93T by a spring 95T. Thelatch 89T has a lip 97T which lies in the path of a rotary timed tripelement 99T driven through a friction slip clutch (not shown) from themain Vdriving train.

The trip element 99T also carries with it a roller tippedl stopprojection 101T which is normally interfered with by a second rollertipped latch ltiST rockable on a pivot 105T and held in interferingposition against an adjustable stop 107T by a spring 109T. A linkage111T is connected between the latch 103T and the amature 113T of a trailprint solenoid TP, and includes a return spring HST for the armature,the linkage serving to Withdraw the latch 1ii3T whenever the solenoid TPis energized. lt can be seen from the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 thatwhenever' solenoid TP is energized, a series of events followautomatically, in which latch 103T is withdrawn to permit rotation ofrotary timed trip 99T which travels through a predetermined arc,eventually striking lip 97T of latch 89T and withdrawing the latter topermit rotation of shaft 85T and printing drum 81T which thus occurs ata predetermined time delay after the energization of solenoid TP. Thetrip element 99T then continues on around after clearing the lip 97T, tobe brought to rest again with its stop projection 1ll1T resting againstthe latch 1il3T, which in the meantime will have been returned to itsnormal position in response to deenergization of the solenoid TP. Theamount of delay introduced can be set exactly to theY value desiredwithin certain limits by adjusting stop screws '71" and 93T.

The lead printer 53L merely has its printing die 8'1L on the oppositeside of the envelope path from the die 81T of the trail printer 53. Forthe most part, the control and operating elements correspond to those ofthe trail printer, and similar parts have been designated by the numberof the corresponding part in the trail printer mechanism, except thatthe postscript Lis substituted for T in each case, and the solenoid islabeled LP. The operation of the parts is carried out in the same mannerin most respects, except as noted hereinafter. In particular there isprovided intervening means for preventing operation of the printing dieshaft SSL under certain circumstances, particularly in the case of astamp row having excessive length for the canceling die, even though thesolenoid LP has been energized and the timing operation started. Thisintervening means includes a blocking element 117 rockable on a pivot119, connected to an armature 121 of ya printallowing solenoid PA by alink 123. A spring 125 normally urges the armature 121 to an unactuatedposition and the blocking element 117 to a position in which itinterferes with a shoulder 127 of the latch S9L to prevent withdrawal ofthe same. Thus only when the solenoid PA is energized does the blockingelement 117 clear the shoulder 127 and permit normal time delayedoperation of the printing die shaft SSL. To accommodate the parts whenwithdrawal is blocked, the lip @7L is swingably mounted on the latch SQLand is held in normal operating position by `a compression spring 129.Whenever withdrawal of the latch 89L is prevented by the blockingelement 117, the lip 97L is permitted to deiiect sufficiently to permitthe trip element 991. to bypass it and return to its latched positionwtihout tripping the latch S9L.

Stacker gute mechanism The gates 57T and 57L, previously described,serve to guide the letters into the appropriate stacker, and are pivotedby their rear portions at the forwardmost ends of dividing partitions orguides 131 and 133 respectively. rThe mechanism controlling theirmovement is shown especially in Figs. 4, 6 and 7 and will be describedfor a single gate 57L, it being understood that the other gate iscontrolled by similarly functioning parts each designated by the samenumeral portion as the corresponding part followed by the postscript T.

The gate 57L is mounted on a vertical rock shaft 135L to which issecured a bell crank 139L having at one end a stop 141L and at the othera follower roller MSL intended for cooperation with the surface of a cam145L affixed to and rotated by a shaft 147 which is moved in time withthe letter feed mechanism in a conventional manner by suitable gearing(not shown). The side of the stop 141L is slightly undercut to provide asuggestion of a lip 149L, best seen in Fig. 7, which cooperates with theslightly beveled end 151Lof a latch arm 153L actuated by armature 155Lof a solenoid LG. The armature `155L is normally held by a spring 157Lin a lowered position, such that beveled end 151L is in position tocatch lip l149L and thus l-atch the stop iarm 141L so that roller 143Lis held away from the surface of cam 1li-5L and strikes the same onlylightly at the short high point or tripping surface 159L thereof. Aheavy spring 161L urges the stop arm 141i.. against the end of latch arm153L with considerable force, so that energization of solenoid LG isinsufficient to pull in the armature 155L except during the period whenthe tripping surface 159L has engaged the roller 1431. so as to extendthe spring 161L slightly and release the pressure against the end oflatch arm 153L.

A single normal cycle of operation of the gate mechanism, eg. the leadgate mechanism, then, consists of energization of the solenoid LG bycertain circuitry in response to a letter condition to be describedhereinafter. Then when the proper instant of time occurs, the trippingsurface 19SL of cam M5L touches roller 143L and moves arm 141L of bellcrank 139L so as to release momentarily the `armature 1E5L, whereupon itis pulled in by solenoid LG raising latch arm 153L to non-latchingposition. When the low surface of the cam 1451. cornes into position,roller i143L follows it in under the influence of spring 1611s, thus`causing bell crank 139L to turn shaft L and swing the gate 57L to theleft, as viewed from the hopper end, thus extending -across the path ofthe oncoming letter, closing the passage 61, Iand directing the letterinto stacker ML. ln the meantime energization of solenoid LG has ceasedand spring 157L returns latch arm l1S3L until it presses on the uppersurface of the stop 141L. As soon as the tripping surface 159L of cam1451J comes into contact with roller 143L again, the bell crank 139L isswung to return gate 57L to normal position and arm 153L automaticallymoves to latching position under the inuence of spring 157L.

Electrical system Fig. l2 is a schematic showing of the device, servingalso as a wiring diagram, and illustrating the interconnection betweenthe elec-trical `and mechanical features. Included is a conventionalelectric power supply 261 having conductors 203, 205, 207, 209, 211 and213 leading therefrom and providing direct current potentials of +24()volts, +15() volts, +80 volts, ground, -8 volts and 2O voltsrespectively for supplying various parts of the apparatus as seen in thediagram.

The primary 63 of the RF pickup is fed by an oscillator 214 whichinduces a voltage in the secondary 65. The `output `of the secondary 65of the RF pickup is fed to a rectiiier 215 and thence to a primarycontrol relay 217, lthe switch 219 of which is vnormally held open bythe induced voltage, but allowed to close momentarily when the couplingat `63, 65 is disturbed by a stamp passing through. The other side ofrelay 217 and one side of switch 219 are connected to `lead 211 (-8volts).

The output of the photoelectric cell 77 is fed to an amplifier 221 whoseoutput is fed to a secondary control relay 223 and thence to lead 207(+80 Volts). In this case the relay switch 225 is a two position switch,permanently in series with switch 219, and makes contact with eitherconductor 227 or 229 which connect respectively with the control gridconnections of a lead thyratron circuit 231 and a trail thyratroncircuit233, the thyratron tubes of which are designated LT and TT respectively.rilhe plate of tube LT is connected to a lead coil LC of a polarizedrelay 235 and thence via a normally closed switch 237 to conductor 205volts). The plate of tube TT is connected to a trailf coil TC of 7 Y therelay 235 and thence via the same switch 237 to the conductor 205. Theswitch 237 is controlled by a cam 238 on a shaft 240 which supports anddrives the feed element 36, as seen in Figs. 3a and l0.

A normally open switch 239 of a relay 241 furnishes a holding bypass forthe switch 219, and the relay 241 is connected into the control gridcircuit of thyratron LT by a conductor 243V which connects withconductor 227 heretofore mentioned. The other side of the relay 241 isconnected to ground. A similar holding bypass arrangement associatedwith the thyratron TT includes a relay 245 having a switch 249 andconnected to conductor 229 via conductor 251.

Returning now to a consideration of the polarized relay 235, this is abalanced relay including 'a three position switch 253 whose blade isconnected to ground and which makes contact with a lead circuit 255 whenthe lead coil LC is energized, with a trail circuit 257 when the trailcoil TC is energized, and opens both circuits by becoming centered whenboth coils are either energized or deenergized at the same time. Thelead circuit includes a normally closed switch 259 controlled by a cam261 on the shaft 240 as seen in Figs. 3a and 10 the lead printingsolenoid LP, and proceeds thence to +240 volt conductor 203. A condenser263 is connected at one of its sides to the 240 volt side of solenoid LPand at the other side to ground. A branch or parallel circu-it 255:1includes the print-allowing solenoid PA, the lead gate solenoid LG andproceeds thence to conductor 203.

The circuit 257 with which lthe blade of switch 253 may also makecontact, includes the trail printing solenoid TP and proceeds from thereto conductor 203. A branch or parallel circuit 257:1 includes the trailgate solenoid TG and connects to conductor 203.

A manually operable gang switch 265 including a switch blade 267 forXedly bypassing switch 219, and switch blade 269 for opening the platecircuit of the trail thyratron TT, serves to convert the equipment forordinary canceling when desired.

Operation The endrnostenvelope of the stack held 'in hopper 21 is fedforward by the feed element 36 in a manner described in my said patentapplication. This envelope may, for the purposes of this description, bein any one of Six conditions as follows, all directions being as viewedby an observer standing at the hopper end and looking along the line offeed:

(1) The address surface of the envelope is facing left with the stamp atthe bottom edge in leading position, as at X in Fig. 13.

(2) The address surface is facing right with the stamp at the bottomedge in trailing position, as at Y in Fig. 13.

(3) Tlhe envelope has the stamps at its upper edge and the addresssurface may be facing in either direction, such as indicated at Z-Z inFig. 13.

(4) The same las condition 1 or2, but the envelope is unstarnped, notshown.

(5) The same as condition l, except that the stamp row is too long to beproperly canceled by the machine, not shown.

(6) The same as condition 2, except that the stamp row is too long to beproperly canceled by the machine, not shown.

If the envelope is in condition l, as it is fed forward, its stamp lirstdisturbs the coupling at the stamp detecting device 49 deenergizingrelay 217 and allowing -switch 219 to close. This applies the -8 voltsof conductor 211 via switch *225 to the input conductor 227 of thyratroncircuit 231 embodying the lead thyratron LT. The thyratron LT will notre at this time because of the -2O volt potential maintained on itscontrol grid via conductor 213. Current passes through circuit 243 toenergize relay 241 closing its switch 239 and forming a holding circuitaround the switch 219 so that the -8 volts of conductor 211 continues tobe applied via switchY 239 even though the stamp may promptly leave thestamp detector 49. When the leading edge of the letter breaks the beamat the edge sensing device 51, relay 223 is deenergized and switch 22-5swings to the other position. This suddenly removes the 8 volt negativeVoltage from the input to thyratron LT and also from the relay 241, Theinductive reaction of lthe relay solenoid brings about a rapidlydecaying transient voltage or inductive kick which is transmitted to thethyratron circuit 231 including the control grid thereof, and when inthe positive range, causes the thyratron LT to fire, setting in motionthe mechanisms necessary to operate on the envelope in condition 1. Whenswitch 225 breaks contact 'with-conductor 227, it interrupts the currentpath for Irelay 241, and removal of stamps from the stamp detector 49returns switch 219 to open position. Thus even though the envelopeleaves the edge detector 5l, return of switch 225 to contact withconductor 227 cannot put the preliminary bias on the input to thyratronLT to prepare the same for ring unless and until the switch 219 isclosed rst. When the thyratron LT fires, the plate circuit energizes thecoil LC of the polarized relay 235, causing blade 253 to move to theleft and complete circuits 255 and 255a. This energizes solenoid LPoperating linkage 111L to withdraw the latch 11131. and start atime-delayed tripping of the lead printer 53L as `heretofore described,so that the lprinter operates at the right instant to cancel the stampon the lower left-hand side in the leading position, gauged from thetime when the leading edge initiated action by affecting .the edgedetector 51. Furthermore, circuit 255a is also completed to energize thesolenoid PA which acts through link 123 to Withdraw stop 1'17 andtherefore prevent interference with the printing action. At the sametime, lead gate solenoid LG is energized to put its armature 1551.,under stress ready to pull in when it becomes unlatched as heretoforedescribed, so that the lead gate 57L will -be timed to operate at theproper instant closing the passage 61 and guiding the canceled envelopeinto lead stacker 41L.

When the envelope about to be fed by element 36 is in condition 2, thespacing of the detector will be found to be close enough together thatthe order of detection is reversed. Thus, the leading edge of theenvelope first actuates the edge detector 51 deenergizing the relay 223and causing the switch 225 to make contact with circuit 229. This doesnot lire thyratron LT because the initiating bias of -8 volts is lackingby reason of the open switch 219 as heretofore explained. Thereafter thestamp in trailing position affects the stamp detector 49 causing relay217 to deenergize and its switch 219 to close. The negative voltage (-8volts) is accordingly applied to the input conductor 229 of the circuit233 of thyratron 'IT and relay 245 is energized to close the holdingcircuit switch 249. In this case the subsequent operations are triggeredby the trailing edge of the envelope leaving the edge detector 51. Thisact reenergizes relay 223 to cause switch 225 to break contact withconductor 229 whereby the inductive kick of relay 245 applies sufficientpositive voltage to the grid to lire the thyratron TT, causing currentto flow in the plate circuit and energize the trail coil TC of thepolarized relay 235. This action draws the switch 253 into position tocomplete circuits 257 and 257:1. The former energizes trail printingsolenoid TP, which via linkage 111T withdraws latch 103T and initiatesthe delayed tripping of trail printer 53T as heretofore described, sothat the printer operates at the right instant to cancel the stamp onthe lower right-hand side in trailing position, as gauged from the timewhen the trailing edge initiated action by leaving the edge detector 51.The completion of circuit 25761 energizes the trail gate solenoid TG toput its armature under stress ready to pull in when it becomes unlatchedas heretofore described, so that the trail gate 57T will be timed tooperate at the 9 proper instant, closing the passage 61 and guiding thecanceled envelope into the trail stacker 41T.

If the next envelope to Ere canceled is in condition 3 or 4, there is nostamp positioned at a location which can affect the detector 49.Accordingly, switch 219 remains open throughout and there can be nofiring of either thyratron. This being the case, neither printer isactuated, and neither gate is moved so that the envelope is fed throughwithout canceling and is directed into passage 61 and finally into thestacker 45.

If the next envelope is in condition 5, the initial operation aspreviously described for condition 1 will obtain. However, the spacingbetween stamp detector 49 `and edge detector 51 is such that it measuresthe length of the stamp strip which the printing die will properlycancel. If the stamp strip is, longer than this predetermined length,then switch 219 will remain closed even after the firing of thyratronLT, whereby the relay 245 is also energized -with the result that whenthe trailing edge of the envelope clears the edge detector 51, thethyratron TT is also fired. In effect then, the mechanism has read theenvelope as carrying both a leading stamp and a trailing stamp and hasenergized both of the coils LC and TC of the relay 235 with the resultthat the switch blade 253 ends up in centered position with the machineaccordingly set to feed the envelope directly through to passage 61 andinto stacker 45. It will be remembered, however, that the -thyratrons LTand TT are fired in sequence, so that there 4was a short period when theswitch blade 253 of polarized relay 235 was in contact with conductor'255. At that instant a time delay cycle was instituted for causing theprinter SSL to print on a stamp in lead position. That printingoperation is defeated, however, for by .the time the letter reaches theprinting position for leading stamps, the relay 235 has already had itsblade 253 centered, thus breaking the circuit of solenoid PA and causingthe stop 117 to revert to interfering position under the inuence ofspring 125, Fig. 9. Then when the trip finger 99L reaches a trippingposition, it will merely deflect the tongue 97L against the resistanceof spring 129, Fig. 9, and no tripping of the printer latch lwill occur.v

If the next envelope to be canceled is in condition 6, the operation issimilar to that described for condition 5, for the positioning of thedetectors 49, 51 and the length of the printing die are such that ou anyenvelope of a length in general use, a stamp strip Which is too long tobe adequately defaced will approach near enough to the opposite envelopeedge to actuate the stamp detector 49 before the envelope edge actuatesthe edge detector 51 even though the stamps are in trailing position.Thus, such an envelope will be read first as a leading stamp envelope,then as a trailing stamp envelope to balance the relay 235 `as describedfor condition 5, and finally the solenoid PA will be deenergized tointerfere with the timed printing operation which was instituted for theleading face.

It will be noted that cams 238 .and 261 on shaft 240i of the feedelement 36 operate respectively on switches 237 and 259 suitably locatedin the machine circuits. 'Ihe effect of switch 237` when opened by cam238 is to break momentarily the plate circuits of both thyratrons LT andTT just as a new feeding cycle is starting, thus making certain thatthyratron firing is unquestionably interrupted and that the circuits arein proper condition for the new cycle of operation. Switch 259 is heldopen for the inactive portion of each cycle by the cam 261 to giveopportunity for the capacitor 263 to charge up, but is permitted toclose during the part of the cycle when the controlling operations wouldbe active. In the normal state of affairs without the presence of switch259, the circuit closing operation of relay 235 occurs so early in thecycle on the leading side that the circuit to solenoid LP is open foronly a minor fraction of the cycle, I'his would not allow suiiicienttime for charging of the capacitor 263 between cycles when leadingstamps occur successively. The

function of the capacitor is to provide sufficient momentary power toinsure instantaneous and full operation of the solenoid LP whenenergized, and by its use, when functioning as intended, regularpositive operation is assured. By providing cam 261 to open the circuit255 at the earliest possible moment (about ahead of the normal openingdue to cessation of thyratron firing resulting from the opening ofswitch 237) the capacitor is permitted to charge fully and insure properoperation. This makes it possible to hold the over-all cycle of themachine to the minimum period land thus provide a shorter and morecompact device in all respects.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the canceling andfacing of mail can be effected in a most efii cient manner with aminimum of equipment. It is merely necessary for the operator tostraighten a bundle of mail into a stack as it comes in without facingit. The stack is inserted in hopper 21 and run once through the machine.A certain proportion ofthe bundle will be found to have arrived atstacker 45. This portion is removed, turned with the upper edge down,and then run through again. Then in stacker 41T is found a stacked groupof canceled letters with the stamps at the lower edges and all facingone direction. In stacker 41L is found another stacked group of canceledletters in which the stamps are at the lower edges and all facing theopposite direction. By removing these groups. and combining them afterfirst inverting one group, the operation is substantially completed andyields the bundle of letters with stamps canceled and with all top edgesin one direction and facing the same way. After the second runthrough, afew abnormal letters, e.g. either unstamped or having excessively longstamp rows thereon, may be found in the stacker 45, in which case theywould be given individual #attention as by hand canceling or by transferinto a postage-due compartment.

In case there is occasion to do so, the device can be very quicklyconverted into a normally operating canceling machine. All that isnecessary in this case is merely to operate the gang switch 265. Thisopens the plate circuit of the trail thyratron TT so that only the leadmechanisms are operative. It also closes a fixed by-pass circuit aroundthe switch 219 so that the preparatory voltage of -8 volts iscontinuously available to thyratron circuit 231, and the thyratron LT isfired each time the leading edge of a letter affects the edge sensingdevice 51. In use, the operator, after throwing the switch 265-, merelyfaces the envelopes and presents the stack to the feed mechanism withthe stamps in the lower leading position. The envelopes are thenautomatically fed and canceled, and are collected in the lead stacker41L.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention is described inlanguage which is rather specific as to structural features andarrangements, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto the specific details shown, but that the means and method hereindisclosed comprises the preferred of several modes of putting theinvention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any ofits forms or modifications within the scope of the language employed inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for working on articles carrying a designator adjacent oneend or the other, in accordance with their endwise positioning whenpresented to the device, which comprises means for feeding articles oneat a time along a predetermined path straight through the m-achine fromtheir presented position; means for detecting the designator and meansfor detecting a predetermined end of the article in a given sequencedepending upon the positioning of the designator with respect to thepredetermined end of the article, both of said means being arrangedadjacent said path in a predetermined relationship; and means responsiveto detection of said designator prior to detection of said predeterminedend for working on said article in one manner while advancing straightthrough said path,'and responsive to detection of said predetermined endprior to detection of said designator for working on said article inanother manner While advancing straight through said path.

2. A device for Working on articles carrying a designator adjacent oneor the other end, in'accordance with their endwise positioning whenpresented to the device, which comprises means for feeding articles oneat a time along `a predetermined path straight through the machine tromtheir presented position; means for detecting the designator and meansfor detecting the leading end of the article in a given sequencedepending upon the positioning of the designator with respect to thepredetermined end of the article, both of said means'being arrangedadjacent said path with the designator detector in advance of theleading vend detector; and means responsive to detection of saiddesignator prior to detection of said leading end for working on saidarticle in one manner while advancing straight through said path, andresponsive to detection of said leading end prior to detection of saiddesignator for working on said article in another manner While advancingstraight through said path.

3. A device for canceling stamps on mixed pieces of stamped letter mailcomprising means for feeding the pieces one at a time along apredetermined path straight through the machine from a startingposition; means for detecting a stamp and means for detecting theleading end and trailing end of the piece in a given sequence dependingupon the positioning of the stamp with respect to the leading andtrailing end of the piece, both of said means being arranged adjacentsaid path with the stamp detector in advance of the end detector; stampcanceling dies, one at each side of said path; and means responsive todetection of said stamp prior to detection of said leading end foroperating one of said dies at a predetermined time after detection ofthe leading end of the fed piece to cancel a stamp on one surfacethereof While the piece advances straight through said path, andresponsive to detection of said leading end prior to detection of saidstamp for operating the other of said dies at a predetermined time`after detection of the trailing end of the fed piece to cancel a stampon the other surface of the fed piece while the piece advances straightthrough said path.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,217,092. Hoppy Feb. 20, 1917 1,729,521 Roddy Sept. 24, 1929 2,325,927Wilbur Aug. 3, 1943 2,580,670 Gilbert Jan. 1, 1952 2,719,629 RobinsonOct. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 675,556 Great Britain July 16, 1952

